John Addison (1820-1903) was born in Liverpool he was apprenticed to Stephen Robinson of Hartlepool before becoming Resident Engineer of the Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway. In 1839 he lectured on surveying, levelling and mechanical drawing at Durham University. In March 1844 he joined the staff of J. Locke and Errington and worked with them to construct the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway and the Caledonian Railway, he then worked on surveys for the Shrewsbury and Stafford Railway, the Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Railway and the Hayton and Warrington Railway. In 1845 there was a Parliamentary contest between the Caledonian Railway and the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Addison was sent to survey the line through the Dalveen Pass joining Thornhill to Elvanfoot. His report resulted in the Caledonian Railway obtaining its Act. Addison was appointed the Resident Engineer for the Southern Division of the Caledonian Railway and superintended the construction of the first 30 miles including surveying the Dumfries Branch. In 1850 he was appointed the Traffic Superintendent to of the Caledonian Railway, based in Carlisle. He was appointed the General Manager of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway in December 1857 John Addison served as an Engineer to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway from an unknown date until 1884 and also became the Company Secretary and General Manager from 1858 onwards. Addison retired from this post in 1884 and became the Director of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway. He died in Maryport in 1903.